Chores were not left behind in the house...they followed me into my camper!

I think I truly believed that I would have more free time while on the road and in a sense I do.  When I had my sticks and bricks I spent most of my time cleaning, sorting, and tending to things.  Our family was involved with more classes and clubs that took many a nights.  Now, our nights are spent with each other, around a fire, or working on our writing.  

My husband and I find time to spend together everyday! 

Not just once a week. 

We date everyday!

But, even with all of the benefits of travel, we still have normal life.  

We are not on permanent vacation! 

 Let me repeat:  

We are not on permanent vacation!

We have normal daily life -

• wash dishes - we have no dishwasher
• wash clothes
• vacuum
• clean rooms
• do school
• cook more meals
• make sure everyone gets outside to run and play
• spend time with hubby
• pay bills
• sort paperwork
• sort clothes and school work
• fix broken items in and on camper
• fix van, truck, camper, flatbed, UTV, ATVs, bikes, and toys
• change oil on numerous motors
• decide where to go next
• spend days trying to find a campground that will work for us
• pray pray pray pray pray
• visit people
• site see
• and so much more

It is so hard to fit it all in.  I thought that I would have time to read and relax more, but I don't.  That is OK, though, I have such amazing experiences and memories that it is all worth it.

When we had a house, I could put a pile of items in the basement and get to it in a few months, when I had more time.  Now, everything has to be sorted and put away daily, there is no room for piles!  Dishes can't sit overnight, and laundry has no large basket to pile up.  Things cannot go undone, but must be taken care of daily.  There is a benefit to that in that chores are not piled up for another day, yet it can get difficult trying to do it all everyday.  

The grass is always greener on the other side, and sometimes it is.  For me, I love traveling.  But, I have learned over the years that troubles and problems can follow us anywhere.  Will a lifestyle change solve those problems or just join you in your new life?  Traveling has not been the solution for my problems, but instead has given me a different perspective on life.  It has changed me to the core - forever.

The Grass is not always greener on the other side, it is just on the other side!

Some people say we are crazy to do what we do - they were right!

Sometimes there are people that tell us we are nuts to travel full time with 

eight of us in 42'.  

And over the years, I have come to agree with them.

Some would say those with houses are crazy to not travel full time.

And over the years, I have come to agree with them.

Yet, I have evidence that we truly are crazy to do what we do.

The following conversation happened the other night between my husband and oldest daughter.

She loves to visit with friends and family on facebook and uses pinterest as an outlet

for some of her creativity.

Hanna:  "I found a cool hair style on pinterest the other night.  What do you think?"

Dad:  "It looks like an Indian headband."

Dad  goes to bedroom and makes a hair band out of his underwear.

Dad then runs into living room area of camper to scare his children.

Children:  "AHHHHHHHH  DAD!"

Hanna:  "NOOOOO"

Dad:  "How do you like the hair band idea I found on pinterest?"

Mom and Hanna think - does he even know what pinterest is?

My Toes are Cold in the Camper

winter jackets were necessary
at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

I am freezing my butt off! 

Well, I wish, but it really is chilly here!  

Campers are typically not made for warm weather.  They tend to be a bit drafty and have very little insulation.  With us on the road often, we have small propane tanks that cost more to fill. We go through about a tank a week.  Thankfully the prices here in southern Utah are very reasonable at $20 a tank.  I'd like to say we have 35 lb tanks but that is just a guess based off of a memory buried in the deepest recesses of my tired brain.

We have two electric heaters besides the furnace.  With lots of blankets and warm jammies we do pretty good at night.  It is just when I sit in the slide out to type on my computer late at night that I really start to get chilled.

Weather is a huge deciding factor in where we camp next.  It is too cold to head north and we don't want to spend the gas money to drive too much further south.  Yet, I'm starting to wonder if the cost of gas for the vehicles to head further south might be the same as what we are paying for propane and electric to stay warm in a cooler climate.

Don't get me wrong, we are not in the frigid temperatures of central or mountainous Utah.  Still, with below freezing temps and the cool March winds picking up, we can still feel the bite of winter.

So is life in the desert; the days warm up nicely and the nights freeze.

I try hard to not complain.  Before long it will be too hot and our electric bill at the campgrounds will reflect our air conditioner attempting to cool this huge beast.  

When the sun sets in the desert it can get very cold!
Zion National Park, Utah

Moisture in a camper is a nightmare!

There are only a few things that drive me nuttier than the condensation that collects on the walls and in the window sills of our camper.

I had really thought that it would not be a problem here in the low humidity west. 

Boy, was I wrong.

There is moisture in more places than I can count.  The problem is that it can lead to mold which is extremely dangerous to breath in.

So, many of my days are spent wiping up the excessive water found in the many places in my home.

It is not what I prefer to do with my free time, but oh well. I guess I can't complain when I have such an awesome back yard...

Zion National Park.

Watchman Trail, Zion National Park, Utah

Virgin River near the Visitor Center at Zion National Park

Zion National Park

The View From My Front Door

Life on the road is just that - Life on the Road.  

Many aspects of life do not change because we are traveling.  There are meals to be cooked, dishes to be done, vacuuming the small floor space daily, laundry, schooling, baths, clipping toe nails, playing, paying bills, catching up on paperwork.

Our views always change yet other views stay the same.

The big difference is when I walk out my front door I may see this:

Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
Year one - us kayaking

 Or this:

Sometimes it is the view while staying at a relatives home.

Some of the campgrounds have animals for all to enjoy.
Mansfield, Missouri

The mist on Nolin Lake, Kentucky

 Sometimes this:

Fall colors in Honea Path, South Carolina

Enjoying the birds in central Alabama

Alligator filled campgrounds in central Florida.
Withlocochee State Forest

 Other times this:

Some views of the dumpsters and water waste treatment plant make us laugh and
get in a hurry to move to the next campground.

The Spanish Moss hanging in clumps on the trees around a lake in Montgomery, Alabama.

Sometimes all we can see is the next camper over.

Other times we are right next to the beach and enjoying our kayaks.
Key Largo, Florida

The deserts of the southwest are beautiful and vast.
Hawthorne, Nevada

Sometimes we stay at extremely nice campgrounds that even
provide gazebos and three pools!
Nevada Treasures RV Park in Pahrump, NV

Of course, my daughters enjoy being near water, like here
in San Angelo, Texas.

It was hard to chose pictures for this post.  There are so many beautiful places we have been since heading out on the road.  

Our home may be small 

but our back yard is the entire country!

Benefits of Full Time Travel - more time with kids

Ever since the internet got big, I have been receiving heart warming forwards that either make me want to cry, puke, or laugh.  There is always the forward that talks about the person dying in the hospital and wishing they had more time with family.

I am thankful I won't have that problem.  Each day I get to spend hours with my husband and children.  Full time travel has taken our life and magnified it.  We enjoy each other every day.

We don't wait for the one week vacation every year.  There is adventure and excitement around every corner and at every new place we go.

Yet, I feel that everyone can have this life even if not on the road.  Daily we can chose to spend time together and appreciate every day that God has given us.  

I remember my goal being five minutes of undivided attention for each child every day.  It was a moment with them alone to totally focus on them and their needs.  I was with them all day, homeschooling, loving, caring for and doing activities.  Yet, there was something more that I wanted.  I wanted to look in their eyes and show them that I am theirs and care what they have to say.

Now that we don't have as many possessions and activities to do at a house, we have more time to spend together.  Instead of vacuuming for two hours I can vacuum for 15 minutes and spend 1 hr and 45 minutes playing outside with my family.

Instead of mopping the kitchen floor numerous times a week, I can get on the my hands and knees and clean the camper kitchen floor in two minutes.

I have so much more time for my children.  This is time that is more than caring for their needs and teaching them.  I have time to look in their eyes and love them.  I can hold them for half an hour and not feel like it was a huge sacrifice of my time.  They can put on a play or tell me some crazy story and I have no where else I would rather be or need to be.

With so much less "stuff" to tend to, I have so much more to do with my family.

Spending time with the kids is so important to us.
Here we are sledding in the Tusher Mts. of Utah

I am so thankful.

Benefits of Full Time Travel - more time with hubby

Without as many things to tend to, clean, maintain, and sort - my husband and I get to spend more time together than ever before.

Everyday we try to spend time together exercising whether it be a video, hiking, biking, or swimming.

I love to take off with Shae and explore the mountains, deserts, beaches, and forests around us.  We love to be together and explore God's awesome creation.

This is one of the best parts of full time travel

more time with hubby.

Carolers in the Mountains of Utah

Enjoying our Advent traditions all over the country.

Traveling during the holidays brings endless choices and opportunities.  There are new Christmas programs, lights, and sights in every new town.  Last night carolers from the local Baptist church were so much fun to hear.  They drove by all bundled up on a flat bed trailer pulled by a tractor.  A car led the way and another car filled with children and a driver followed behind.

We knew they might be coming.  Another lady in the town had called us early that morning asking if we wanted to join them.  With a house full of kids with colds and a really bad flu bug, I knew we could not join in the festivities.  It was very disappointing for us all to not get to join them but then again, when we saw them pull up - half frozen - I didn't feel as bad.

They sang a couple of songs and yelled, "Merry Christmas".  Hanna made out with the cookie bowl just in time to give each caroler a cookie, even the tractor driver enjoyed one.  I heard people saying, "The cookies are still warm!"

Two little Christmas trees for fun.

Then they were on their way, through the town, to bring a smile to other neighbors and friends.

It will be interesting to see how people in the mountains of Utah celebrate the holidays.  Most of the residents are Mormon, and sad to say, I don't really know what their Christmas beliefs are.  So, we will learn about other religions this season along with celebrating the birth of our Savior.

Travel Options are Endless

I just pulled up a map of the United States on Google.  

The options are endless!  Where do we go next?  

We spent a lot of money on gas to get out to Utah.  It was about $1100 in gas for our two vehicles to tow two trailers this far from Missouri.

Now, we hope to wonder the west for a while.  Utah alone has thousands of great places.  

It is always a labor of love to choose where to go next.

We always pray first and then get the map out.

Our time in the cabin ends January 31st.  It is a cold time of year to head out.  South or  further west would be our only options so we will look in those directions.

Since Shae and I are both military veterans, we have to go to a VA appointment every year and a half or so. Will we drive all the way back to Missouri for it or should we send him on a plane?  A plane ticket would be much less than the gas money.

Oh dear.

The decision is never easy, I wish it was.  The options are endless and wonderful -

It Sure Is A Nice Problem To Have!

A Day in the Life of a Traveler

The views are breathtaking.

What happened to my day?  Where did it go? Sometimes the day gets away from me and my to do list only shrinks a little.

What did I do of value?  

Was there a moment with each person in my family?

Husband? - check

Kids? - check

God? - check

Up into the mountains for adventure.

What are your priorities?  

Find the things in your day that really matter and then make it a point to do it.  

Put the other things on the back burner.  

Some activities can wait while others cannot.

We saw a huge buck picking up some does. 

We cannot do it all but we can do what matters most.

Don't miss out on the little opportunities each day.  We will never have this day again.

Buffalo Facts and an Awesome Song by an Anonymous Smith Kid in 2009

While updating past posts on my blog I noticed I have quite a few posts on the Black Hills of SD area and the massive buffalo.  I thought it might be nice to add some facts about the 

Buffalo - Bison  we saw while on our trip.

I immediately thought this would be a great assignment for my daughter, Hanna, who wrote an article about the subject and posted it on our online magazine - 

The Lemonade Digest

Not only did she write an article, but she made a Flick album and a slide show.

The slide show is put to a song that one of my children - who wants to remain anonymous- sang into a cellphone while we were driving home to the camper after a really long day touring Yellowstone National Park.

Also, read the posts on this blog about our adventures in Custer State Park and Yellowstone National Park.

The song is just terrible and gross, so be prepared!

Enjoying a Night by the Fire

We are so thankful all the burn bans are off and we can enjoy a campfire outside our camper. This campground happens to provide really nice fire pits.

Hanna and Cody played music while the rest of us either relaxed or ran circles around the van.  No, it wasn't Shae and I who were running around the van!

Time spent as a family is one of the main reasons we sold our home and went out on the road. And thankfully, we have made the choices necessary to make amazing memories all over this country.

Daddy is so Strong!

Another day in the National Forest. Each day brings new adventure and great memories. After breakfast, chores, and bible study, I took the kids for a walk. Gabriel flew by on his bike; riding on the road half the time and in the ditch the other half. Josie was pretending to be a mommy while pushing her stroller and Tytus rode his tricycle, pretending it was a dirt bike. He doesn't use the pedals but instead pushes himself along on the ground with his feet - kind of like the Flintstones.

Naomi walked by my side with her camera at the ready. My dear husband came along and cut down a tree that was hanging over the road. It was quite low to the ground and he was concerned it would poke a hole in the roof of someone's camper. Of course, the kids were impressed when daddy cut half way through the tree and then pushed it to the ground with his hands. I was a little impressed, too.

We spent the next five minutes cleaning up the branches and then continued our walk. It was a beautiful day and none of us wanted to head back. Yet, we had to. Josie and Tytus were tired and Shae had to get back to work.

It was an active day with many projects to be completed. With the convention coming up, the one I am speaking at, we have a lot to get done. I am excited to share with people about our life and travels. I only have one hour for each class and I am finding it difficult to condense everything I want to share.

Cody spent the afternoon doing voluteer work and Hanna was writing and helping with cooking. Monday is work day so we do a lot of baking for the week. She made a huge batch of rice and a pan of cornbread. Josie made the pinto beans, with help of course. Naomi helped with school for the younger ones. Shae and I did our exercise video - I still have 10 lbs to go.

Now, it is late and I am still working on the magazine. It is much easier to get things done when everyone is in bed. I just hope Shae can sleep through the noise of my typing!

Where to go next?

Every year or so, we had back to Missouri to take care of vehicle registration, dentist, doctor appts, visit family, and so on.

Each time we go through everything that is in the camper; under every drawer, behind every shelf, all the dark cabinets...I mean everywhere!  We have to unload as much as possible because I guarantee we will get more stuff as we travel the next year.  It is always shocking just how much stuff can be accumulated in 42 feet! 

It was so much work this time.  It just seemed to be harder than usual.  Besides the fact Cody had to have his wisdom teeth out and wee little Tytus had to have a filling, and a week and a half of sickness.

All of us had a great bill of health from the doctor, so that is great news.  Shae even got his cholesterol down!  Guess he will try to start eating all that butter and bacon again!  Just kidding...although I will have to watch him.

Deciding where to head to was difficult. 

• fires in Arizona
• fires in New Mexico
• fires in Southern Colorado
• smoke in Western Colorado
• bad tornadoes in Central U.S.
• too hot in the South
• too hot in the South East
• bad storms heading north
• gas prices high

I printed up a map of the U.S. and marked off all of the states that wouldn't work for us this year.  It only left a few.  So, we are on the road again, no destination.  Things keep changing everywhere we think we want to head to.  Now there is horrible flooding to the north and central. 

So, we roam aimlessly.... It is kind of fun.

How Time Flies in Between Sickness and Travel!

Literally, time sure has gone by fast.  With six kids, home school, and all of the travel, it is hard to find time for much else.  That is not a complaint, just a fact.

January brought one of the most wild times of our trip.  Sorry to say, I am just too tired to write about it all tonight, but I do want to touch on one aspect of the last two months.

It is so easy to get so busy.  Often times, the busyness is not intentional or even our desire.  Busyness can be thrust upon us and not welcome at all.

Such is the last two months.

We spent one month at an amazing ranch in Texas (details later).  But, while there, we had three different sicknesses!  It was terrible.  It seemed that I had at least one to four children at a time with a fever.  Shae and I even got sick with only Hanna to help us all.  Cody was working on the ranch, so he was busy during the day and helped when he could.  Still, it was such a wonderful time with our new friends.

From there, we went to a camp south of Dallas, where the kids got pink eye!  And, on top of that, we were in an ice storm for five days!  Our camper is not made for that!  It was miserable. 

Leaving there, we had to be in another town to visit family.  The kids were almost over pink eye, but not quite.  We told the family they had it and may still be contagious, but the family didn't care.  They just wanted to see us anyways.

Two weeks of driving to their house almost every day for many wonderful hours was great, but are we exhausted!

What a crazy two months! 

Six weeks of it I didn't have decent internet or cell phone!  I felt like I was in the stone age!

Now, we are at a campground with full hook ups, no visiting, only my husband is sick, and cable tv!  Yes, you read it right!  Cable TV!  We sure are spoiled here!  I have great cell signal and ok internet.  What a treat!

Now, we need a break.  It is time to take some time off to catch up on chores and get some kind of order to our lives.

The other day I was so wore out, I sat in my lawn chair and stared at the lake.  I didn't think, move, or talk for an hour.

I can't wait to share some of our adventures since Jan 1st.   I just have to stay awake long enough to write it!

Life gets busy...we must not be blind

Traveling with six kids, trying to home school, and write three books, can sure be time consuming.  Back on the road, after staying put for the summer.....life is busy!  But, it is a good busy. 

After two years on the road, we are finally getting to visit my Grandmother.

We only have two weeks here, so we have to treasure it.  But, like with all plans, things change.  Upon arrival, we found out two uncles died.  One uncle was 88 and died of cancer, while the other was only 53 and his death was quite a surprise. 

(This post was written before we rented the cabin)

Our happy vacation turned into a time of mourning and bonding.  I brought my grandmother to the viewing of Eugene.  The family was sad, but not overly distraught.  Eugene was old and ready to be with the Lord.  Of course, he left a huge farm with lots of items of value on it.  I am hoping greed doesn't divide the family.  If everyone will do what is fair and right, things will be fine....

Uncle Orville died too young.  He has four children, all adults, but still too young to be without a father.  When we got word of his death, we dropped everything.  I told my husband that our vacation was over.  Our only job was to help the family through this hard time. 

You see, I lost my dad when he was 53 also.  It was one of the hardest things in my life. 

We made a huge salad and tons of enchiladas.  I bought paper plates, silverware and cups for them.  We brought them to their house.  As I walked in, my cousin Sara rushed to me and collapsed in my arms.  I'll never forget the sobbing and her body shaking with sadness.  This was her daddy that died.  Her heart was crushed.  I led her to a bedroom and rocked her in my arms.  We cried together for a while.

We didn't stay long, in fact, I didn't let the kids come inside.  When someone loses a loved one so tragically, it is not time to visit or make it into a family reunion.  I held her and comforted her until she was ok, then we left. 

Two funerals were not what we wanted to do on our vacation up north.  Yet, it is times like this that makes us question our motives for our traveling full time.  Yes, we travel to see great sites, spend time as a family, have fun....but are we willing to sacrifice our own plans to help another in need.

We gave up three days of our vacation to help our family.  I told my kids, "Are we here for us, or for God."
We helped clean up after the funeral, which took up most of our one of only two Saturdays here.  It was the right thing to do, though.  People must always come first...before sight seeing, playing, or resting. 

It is like the good samaritan....when we see a desperate need,

Do we go on with our plans?
Do we keep driving and say the next person will help?
Do we feel that it is not our responsibility and they wouldn't do it for us?

Sometimes, it is the hard choice that is right.  I am not saying all of this to act like we are so great and look how holy and wonderful we are.  I write this to remind all of us to

take the time

love others

give of ourselves when it is inconvenient or difficult

prioritize

I know we have not always made the right choice, or helped when we should have, but we are trying to be thoughtful to those around us and hopefully spread a light, that is not our own, but Christ's.

Staying on track...Remembering why we travel.

When we first decided to sell our home and travel full time, we made numerous lists.

• Pros
• Cons
• Budget
• Where we want to go
• Goals

Some things we wrote were right on the money, while others were completely wrong.  Other lists, like our goals list has stayed almost totally the same.  But, so often I find us wandering from that list. 

We get distracted with so many different things such as too much sight seeing, continual chores that never seem to end, computer, tv, work, etc.  It is not that these things are bad in themselves, it is that anything can be done at the wrong time, too often, or not enough. 

The other day I looked at our list of goals we made when we first decided to do this trip.  I wouldn't change much.  In fact, I need to remind myself more often the reasons why we did this trip.  Writing a list and putting it in the bathroom will be the best reminder for everyone.  Any time I want the family to learn something, Spanish, Latin, bible verses, I put them on the bathroom wall.  It is a captive audience!

Sometimes I don't think I can do this anymore....

I about lost it.  Sometimes I don't think I can live in a camper anymore.  I don't have these days very often.  Just every now and then.  If I can get through those moments, hours, or days, I will be fine.  Endurance....it is very hard sometimes.

It has been two years on the road now.  Traveling has been wonderful, yet I miss having a home sometimes. 

Trying to get all of our stuff, for eight people, and live in a 8'X42' box is so hard.  I have been working at it for over two years, from when we bought our camper.  About two weeks ago, I walked into our back room and said, "I give up, it is impossible. Eight people cannot live in 42'.  So, it can be messy, cluttered, and some things can break, and I'm ok with that."  I can't fix it.  I try and try.  I purchase different storage shelves, change things around, pack up some items while purchasing others all in an effort to make our life better in this home on wheels.  I finally realized that no matter what I do, I cannot do it!  It is actually a good place to be, in my heart that is.  I spend too much time trying to live in an impossible situation. 

I have found that in my moments of greatest weakness, God moves the most.  When I am trying to fix, change, manage, and do, I tend to fail at some level if not all levels.  Am I saying that I don't have to do anything?  God will sort my laundry and change diapers?  No, I am talking about my striving and having no peace in the midst of such abundant blessings.  Yes, I am preaching to myself right now.  It is so easy to get caught up in the here and now, the immediate need of the moment and lose the eternal value of the day.

My one year old tried to go in the back room two days ago.  He couldn't even walk because of all the "stuff".  It is all really wonderful "stuff" mind you, but still too much of it!  If we had a house, it wouldn't be much at all.  In a camper, not much is a whole lot of "stuff".  I lost it.  That is it!  Walmart was my destination and nothing would stop me.  I bravely jumped in the van with my 17 year old son and 1 year old son.  Everyone could sense that mama had reached the end.  I bought a bunch of plastic containers of all sizes, crammed them in the van and headed back, after paying of course.

Everyone had to sort, again, and try to take out as much as possible.  One of the main reasons we sold our home and gave away or sold most of what we owned was so we would not be so bound to material things.  Yet, here we are, once again, spending all of our time maintaining our "stuff". 

NO MORE!

I have to admit, it was not easy.  It was like I was packing away some of my dreams.  I thought that I would have more time to paint, draw, craft, sew, cook, etc, with my kids.  I brought lots of projects I had hoped to finally get done, thinking I would have more time.  This is not the case.  So, as quickly as possible, I passed the boxes to Cody, who crammed them in the van.  It was a lot of hard work for everyone, and sad in some respects. 

I know, though. all those things are just things.  I want to see my kids hike mountains, kayak rivers, meet amazing people, learn the history of this wonderful country. 

We will do those projects some day...or not....

But, I do know that I am ok...my kids are ok....and the earth will still revolve with out all of our "stuff".

A Day Like Today Makes it All Worth It

As I have said before, this lifestyle is not for everyone and for us, with six kids, it is not an easy one.  But, days like today make it all worth it.

I enjoyed a long walk and swim today.  It was amazing.  The family went to the pool this afternoon and we had a blast. 

Hanna tried driving for the first time.  She has her permit now.  It went pretty good, lots to learn.

If we had a house, we would not be here, right now. 

Sometimes I want a home so bad, but then I take a deep breath, thank God for my life, and enjoy my day.  I didn't feel that way today, though.  Today was wonderful.

I am back!

No, we did not fall off of the face of the earth.  A few weeks ago, one of my sweet children set my laptop on my black office chair with the mouse in between the top and bottom of it.

I began to sit down on the chair, not suspecting the laptop to be on it, and crunch.  I heard a crack as I quickly stood up.

To my dismay, my laptop screen was cracked.  Thank goodness Shae had enough forethought to buy the black tie protection at Best Buy when we bought our computer. I brought it in to Best Buy, hoping they would give me a new one, but not a chance.  They did fix it, though, and pretty quickly!  I got it back Monday.  I have a lot to write about, but it is too late tonight.

A quick update. We are still in southern Missouri.  It is terribly hot here, but, we are sticking it out.  Some friends of ours borrowed us their portable air conditioner.  We have an air conditioner unit in the camper, but ours doesn't cool the camper well enough.  Now, having the second, portable one, it stays much more comfortable.  Although, it is not really cool during the day, at least we don't sit and sweat all day.

Gabriel, our six yr old, learned to ride his bike today!  He was awesome.  It didn't take long at all.  Shae took off the training wheels and he was gone!

Hanna turned 16 today!  She is so sweet and beautiful.  We got her a laptop, with her birthday money and Christmas money chipped in.  It is also for Christmas, too!  It is nice and she loves it already.

I better run.  It is hard to write a complete thought at 12:40 in the morning.
Sheri